Urban Area · Area profile
Bunbury
223 km²
A typical family income of $2,009 a week marks Bunbury as a more prosperous area than many similar places. The community has grown by 17% since 2011, reaching a population of over 76,000 people. It is a family-oriented hub where homes are generally large and the typical resident is around 39 years old. This growth is paired with a strong trend toward secularism, as nearly half of the population now reports having no religion.
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Families are a major part of the area, with children under 15 making up 19.9% of the population, which is much higher than in most similar areas. While the typical age is 39, the number of seniors aged 65 and over has risen significantly by 5.7 percentage points since 2011.
About 20% of residents were born overseas, which is much higher than in similar areas but well below the Western Australian figure. English, Australian, and Scottish ancestries are the most common heritage groups.
English is the main language for 85.7% of the community. Those using another language at home have risen to 8.4% since 2011, though this is still far below the national figure.
A striking 48% of people report no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and has jumped 21 percentage points since 2011.
Education levels have risen since 2011, with 45.2% of residents now completing Year 12. However, the 14.5% of adults with a bachelor degree or higher remains far below the national figure.
Incomes are generally higher than in similar areas, with the typical personal weekly income sitting at $770. The proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week has grown by 8.1 percentage points since 2011.
While the number of people needing help with daily activities is much lower than in most areas, 30.1% of residents live with a long-term health condition, which is well above the state average.
Community spirit is evident in the 16.3% of residents who volunteer, a rate higher than most similar areas. Unpaid childcare is also very common, with 29.5% of people providing this support.
Homes here are larger than usual, with 2.5 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that 55.1% of families consist of couples with children.
The area is dominated by separate houses, and 86.9% of homes have three or more bedrooms, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $320, while typical monthly mortgage payments have fallen to $1,625 since 2011.
Car reliance is high, with 68.7% of people driving to work and only 4% working from home. Very few households lack a motor vehicle, at just 4.3%.
The community has become more stable over time, as the number of people moving in the last five years fell by 7.3 percentage points since 2011. Recent overseas arrivals have also dropped sharply to 9.1%.
More people are in full-time work here than in most similar areas, with 59.3% of the workforce employed full-time. The largest industries for local jobs are health care, construction, and retail.
The area is considered somewhat walkable, with a score of 5.3. While most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, far fewer are within walking distance of groceries or health services compared to the state average.